Review: Toxic and Hermione’s Dinner, White Bear Theatre

It’s always fun to go to a double bill as you get two bites of the cherry, so to speak, and so it was with great anticipation that I made my way to that stalwart of pub theatres, White Bear Theatre, set up and still run by the indefatigable Michael Kingsbury. So, my anticipation was high and I settled down in a beautifully air-conditioned theatre – very important with the heatwaves forecast.

Ian Dixon Potter, resident playwright for Golden Age Theatre Company is the creator of both pieces, using the three same actors Francesca Anderson, Melanie Thompson and Stephen Connery Brown, and all directed by Phoebe White. 

Toxic is set in a successful architectural practice, run it seems uniquely by Graham (Connery Brown) From the very first scene we learn from established staff member Patricia (Anderson) warning the new recruit from Blackburn Caroline (Thompson) to be on her guard as their boss is a notorious sexploiter. Caroline knows she has a lithe beauty and definitely his type but she is also ambitious and career-driven. We then meet Graham in an extended monologue, confidently regaling us with his attitude to women – definitely a vile, repulsive man and frankly I hated him. It is not a comfortable moment in theatre – intentionally so, but to what end? 

Dramatically this overstayed its welcome, not helped by a certain pushed delivery from Connery Brown. The #Metoo movement has rightly put these men behind bars but Graham doesn’t seem that bothered. So when Caroline is invited up to the dreaded offices to discuss her career prospects, we fear the worst. But during this pivotal scene, who is actually manipulating whom? In the end Caroline, played with an excellent appealing naturalism, has just as much power, gets her promotion but does not testify against Graham when he is finally hauled before the courts for sexual aggression. Patricia, the only one with any principles, cracks up and has to retire. 

It is a depressing play that deals in black and white and overuses the monologue trope to inform us about character. When we do get a scene between two people there is no subtext or tension. This piece seems dated already, the arguments have moved on and I fear this doesn’t give us any new insight into this social evil. 

The second piece Hermione’s Dinner concerns the end of a dinner party with one guest, Carla (Anderson) half-drunk already bemoaning the fact that Hermione, the hostess, has had to leave to look after the children. Carla definitely does not want to have children and champions child free women and their right to choose, and indeed tries to rescue her old friend Roger (Connery Brown) who is also invited with his partner Sue. Rescued because Sue is going on a course of IVF to start a family. 

This second piece is much more successful over its thirty minutes with some humorous moments. but Dixon Potter once again relies on using a monologue directly addressed to the audience – a very unsatisfying and undramatic way of making a point. One goes to the theatre to see interaction between characters who grow and learn about themselves and others. Anderson rises to the occasion well – it is basically her piece though she uses the same tonal and rhythmic patterns which palls after a while.

So, having arrived full of anticipation, I left the theatre frustrated that such important topics should be so unsatisfyingly treated. It is time for a woman writer to deal with these compelling issues.

Written by: Ian Dixon Potter
Directed by: Phoebe White for Golden Age Theatre

Toxic and Hermione’s Dinner play as a double bill at White Bear Theatre until Saturday 28 June.